Eddystone prelimary budget shows increase in sewer fee

EDDYSTONE — Council recently approved a preliminary budget for 2014 showing estimated expenditures of $3,449,591 and holding the line on taxes. The current real estate millage rate is 5.75 mills, or $5.75 for each $1,000 of assessed property valuation.

The sewer fee will go up $20 a year to $285 per dwelling unit. The borough does not levy a trash collection fee, a perk that was noted by Joseph Possenti of the borough management company of Possenti Associates. Possenti said the borough is one of the very few municipalities that does not charge residents for trash removal. Twenty employees, including police officers, will receive three percent raises.

At $1,914,347, the police and fire safety expenditures account for the largest share of the preliminary budget, followed by $227,206 for administration expenses, and then $224,390 for debt principal and interest.